First test to be validated on Indian patients

1000+ sample validation cohort

10+ validation partners in India, USA and Europe

20+ invited presentations in major international conferences

CAP accredited, ISO 13485 certified

OncoStem

Founded in 2011, OncoStem develops highly innovative multi-marker tests that identify patterns of recurrence amongst cancer patients. Our expertise in tumor biology assists physicians in developing optimal therapeutic plans for patients. We use the latest technology to facilitate personalized cancer treatment, improving quality of life for patients.

CanAssist Breast

CanAssist Breast is a prognostic test developed by OncoStem that classifies the patients as ‘low-risk’ or ‘high-risk’ based on the patient’s risk of breast cancer recurrence over five years. CanAssist Breast provides information about the risk of recurrence of early-stage, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients. This test analyses critical biomarkers in the tumor to assess the risk of recurrence, and helps oncologists to personalize treatment plans.

About Canassist

CanAssist Breast is a prognostic tool offering personalized solutions for breast cancer. It delves deep into the molecular level of a patient's tumour, providing clinicians with valuable data to guide treatment decisions. Here's how it works: CanAssist Breast evaluates multiple biomarkers in the tumor tissue sample, utilizing a unique algorithm to calculate a risk score. This score helps predict the likelihood of cancer recurrence within five years after surgery, allowing physicians to tailor treatment strategies based on individual risk.

What is the benefit of this approach? It avoids over-treatment in low-risk patients, reducing unnecessary side effects and healthcare costs. For high-risk patients, it ensures that aggressive therapies are initiated at the right time. CanAssist Breast, therefore, represents a significant step forward in personalized breast cancer care, empowering patients and clinicians with the insights they need to make informed treatment decisions. It's all about the right treatment for the right patient at the right time.

The science behind CanAssist Breast: Biomarker Analysis

CanAssist Breast employs a comprehensive biomarker analysis technique to arrive at its prognostic score. This process delves into the complex molecular structure of the patient's tumor, enabling a more personalized approach to breast cancer management. First, the test evaluates multiple biomarkers in the tumor tissue sample. Biomarkers are particular molecules, genes, or characteristics in the body that can indicate normal or abnormal processes. By looking at these biomarkers, CanAssist Breast can gauge the specific characteristics of each patient's tumor.

Our unique algorithm then processes these biomarker data, calculating a risk score. The risk score provides a prediction of the likelihood of cancer recurrence within five years post-surgery. This vital information helps physicians to customize treatment strategies, ensuring each patient receives care best suited to their individual risk level.

In essence, CanAssist Breast transforms complex molecular data into a simple, actionable score. It helps avoid over-treatment in low-risk patients, minimizing unnecessary side effects and healthcare costs. For high-risk patients, it aids in initiating aggressive therapies at the appropriate time. Hence, CanAssist Breast facilitates an important advancement in personalized breast cancer care. The test enables patients and clinicians to make informed treatment decisions, ensuring the right treatment for the right patient at the right time.

Importance of Prognostic Testing in Breast Cancer

Prognostic testing in breast cancer holds critical value in determining the future course of the disease and tailoring the treatment strategy. It allows healthcare professionals to gauge the severity of the disease, the likelihood of recurrence, and the response to treatment. In essence, it provides a roadmap, guiding the patient's treatment journey. Tests like CanAssist Breast are especially significant as they delve into the molecular level of the tumor, identifying specific biomarkers that indicate cancer's behaviour. This personalized approach is instrumental in ensuring that patients receive the right treatment at the right time. Low-risk patients can avoid unnecessary aggressive treatments and their related side effects, while high-risk patients can receive more aggressive therapies when needed. Therefore, prognostic testing plays a pivotal role in improving patient outcomes, enhancing the quality of life, and optimizing healthcare costs in breast cancer care.

Understanding the Risk of Recurrence

Understanding the risk of recurrence is crucial in the management of breast cancer. Recurrence refers to the return of cancer after initial treatment and after some time during which the cancer couldn't be detected. This could happen weeks, months, or even years after the primary cancer was supposedly removed or destroyed. The understanding of recurrence risk allows physicians to optimize treatment strategies, ensuring each patient receives the necessary level of care.

Tests like CanAssist Breast offer a reliable way to assess this risk. By looking into the molecular details of the tumor and calculating a risk score, CanAssist Breast predicts the likelihood of cancer returning within five years after surgery. This actionable score informs the treatment plan: low-risk patients might avoid intense therapies and their side effects, while high-risk patients could receive more aggressive treatment. In summary, understanding the risk of recurrence with tools like CanAssist Breast is a major stride in personalized, effective breast cancer care.

How CanAssist Breast Help?

CanAssist Breast is a powerful tool that actively empowers both patients and clinicians in the fight against breast cancer. It achieves this by providing valuable, personalized insights that directly influence the planning and execution of treatment strategies. The process begins by examining the tumor at the molecular level. CanAssist Breast looks for key biomarkers, which are unique molecular or genetic signatures that can indicate how aggressive the cancer might be. This detailed analysis is then processed through a unique algorithm, resulting in a risk score.

This risk score is more than just a number. It represents a prediction of the likelihood of cancer returning within five years after surgery. It informs doctors on how to tailor the treatment, ensuring patients receive care specifically suited to their individual risk. For low-risk patients, this might mean avoiding harsh therapies and their associated side effects. For high-risk patients, this could lead to the initiation of more aggressive treatments.

In simple terms, CanAssist Breast transforms complex, individualized molecular data into a straightforward, actionable score. This score facilitates informed decision-making, paving the way for personalized breast cancer care. It's all about delivering the right treatment to the right patient at the right time. As such, CanAssist Breast plays a significant role in improving patient outcomes, enhancing the quality of life, and optimizing healthcare costs.

What is the process for getting tested?

The process for getting tested with CanAssist Breast is simple. Firstly, after your surgery, a small portion of your tumour sample is sent to our laboratory. This sample is carefully studied, and multiple biomarkers within the tissue are evaluated. These biomarkers, which are essentially unique molecular or genetic signatures, provide insights into the behaviour of cancer.

Next, our unique algorithm processes these biomarker data to calculate a risk score. This score indicates the likelihood of your cancer returning within five years following surgery.

Finally, this vital information - your personalized risk score - is shared with your physician. It helps your medical team tailor a treatment plan that's specifically suited to you. If your risk score is low, you might be able to avoid aggressive treatments and their associated side effects. If it's high, your doctors might recommend a more aggressive treatment strategy.

In essence, CanAssist Breast is about delivering the right treatment to the right patient at the right time. Remember, the goal is to optimize your care, improve your health outcomes, and enhance your quality of life.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)


  • It is an innovative prognostic testing tool designed to provide personalized predictions of breast cancer recurrence within five years after surgery. By analyzing multiple biomarkers found within a patient's tumor sample, CanAssist Breast can offer unique insights into the nature and behaviour of cancer. These insights are processed through a specialized algorithm to generate a risk score. This risk score, representing the likelihood of cancer recurrence, enables physicians to tailor the treatment plan, ensuring each patient receives the right type of care at the right time, specific to their individual risk. In essence, CanAssist Breast is about optimizing healthcare, enhancing quality of life, and delivering personalized care for breast cancer patients.


  • CanAssist Breast works by employing a unique blend of science and technology. It starts with the tumour sample collected during your surgery. This sample undergoes specialized testing in our laboratory to identify and measure multiple biomarkers. Biomarkers are unique molecular or genetic signatures within your cancer cells that can provide insights into the nature and aggression of the cancer.

    Once these biomarkers are identified, the data is processed through a specialized algorithm. This algorithm, developed through extensive research and testing, calculates an individualized risk score. This score represents the probability of the cancer returning within five years after surgery.

    This risk score is then shared with your healthcare team. It provides your doctors with a personalized tool to help you decide the most suitable treatment plan for you. If your risk score is low, it can mean avoiding aggressive treatments and their potential side effects. On the other hand, a high-risk score might suggest the need for more intense therapies.

    In essence, CanAssist Breast uses cutting-edge science to deliver personalized insights about breast cancer recurrence risk, allowing for more informed decisions about your treatment and, ultimately, improving your quality of life.


  • The test is designed to benefit patients diagnosed with early-stage hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer. If you or a loved one falls into this category, this personalized tool can make a significant difference in your treatment journey. Specifically, it assists in guiding clinical decisions by predicting the likelihood of cancer recurrence within five years post-surgery. By providing a risk score based on an analysis of your tumour's unique biomarkers, CanAssist Breast allows for the customization of your treatment plan, optimizing your healthcare experience and enhancing your quality of life. Therefore, if you are a patient navigating the complexities of HR+ breast cancer, utilizing the CanAssist Breast test can empower you and your medical team with critical, personalized insights, supporting an informed, individualized approach to your treatment strategy.


  • CanAssist Breast stands apart from other prognostic tests due to its unique blend of precision and innovation, unlike traditional tests that rely on a limited set of parameters. It analyzes multiple biomarkers from your tumor sample. These molecular indicators offer a more comprehensive understanding of your cancer's specific characteristics and aggression level. The data from these biomarkers is then processed through a sophisticated algorithm, providing a personalized risk score. This score represents the likelihood of your cancer returning within the next five years, helping your healthcare team make informed decisions about your treatment plan. Furthermore, CanAssist Breast has a strong emphasis on practical application. A clear, actionable risk score means that you and your healthcare team can move forward with confidence. If your score is low, you might avoid aggressive treatments and their associated side effects. If it's high, your treatment plan might be more intense. So, in essence, CanAssist Breast not only provides superior insights but also empowers you and your medical team with actionable, personalized information. This results in not just optimized healthcare but a better quality of life during and after your breast cancer journey.


  • The CanAssist Breast report provides highly detailed and patient-specific information that is crucial in managing and treating breast cancer. First and foremost, it offers a unique risk score. This score, calculated through a specialized algorithm, indicates the probability of breast cancer recurring within five years of surgery. This objective measure is derived from an in-depth analysis of multiple biomarkers in your tumor sample. These biomarkers, or molecular signatures, reveal the specific characteristics and potential aggression of the cancer.

    Furthermore, the report incorporates a detailed explanation of the methodology used, including the process of biomarker identification and the role of the proprietary algorithm. This fosters transparency and a clear understanding of how your risk score was derived.

    The report also includes a comprehensive interpretation of your risk score, explaining what a low or high score may mean for your treatment plan. This interpretation serves as a personalized tool, assisting your healthcare team in formulating the most suitable and effective treatment strategy for you.

    Ultimately, the report is designed to empower you and your healthcare team with vital and personalized insights. This information aids in making informed decisions, optimizing your healthcare experience, and enhancing your quality of life.


  • Obtaining the CanAssist Breast test is a straightforward process. Initially, your doctor or healthcare provider must order the test for you. After your surgery, a sample of your tumour is sent to our specialized laboratory. It's important to note that this test is designed specifically for patients diagnosed with early-stage hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer.

    Once the test is ordered, our dedicated team of scientists analyze your tumour sample to identify and measure multiple biomarkers. These biomarkers provide unique insights into the characteristics and aggression of your cancer. The data is then processed through our proprietary algorithm to calculate your personalized risk score. This score indicates the likelihood of your cancer returning within five years of surgery, helping your healthcare team create an optimal treatment plan for you.

    Soon after, a comprehensive report is shared with your healthcare team. This report, which includes your personalized risk score and an explanation of the methodology used, is a powerful tool for guiding your treatment decisions. Whether your score is low or high, it helps you and your healthcare team to determine the right course of action, enhancing your healthcare experience and improving your quality of life.

    Ultimately, the CanAssist Breast test puts you at the forefront of your treatment journey, providing actionable and personalized insights. It empowers you and your healthcare team to make informed decisions, ensuring you receive the most suitable and effective care for your specific situation.